For someone who found his voice in music at an early age, Montreal-based singer-songwriter Fernie seems to be following his path with patience and careful intention. His latest EP, Hopeless Dreams, released on Secret City Records, is a testament to this long journey—one where new doors have opened, and experiences have helped him mature and evolve. It suggests that Fernie still has much more to discover in the future. There’s no mystery here: artistic talent comes from hard work and practice, collaborations thrive through meaningful connections, and creativity should be a tool to reflect authenticity and vulnerability. As for stardom? Well, that’s another story for later.

With the help of celebrated singer-songwriter Patrick Watson, Hopeless Dreams took an unexpected turn, showing Fernie what it truly means to be an artist. It became a butterfly-effect moment, a life lesson in itself. Music isn’t just about recording a song, it’s about capturing a moment, transmuting authentic, vulnerable, and secret feelings into sound and words. This shift made the song Pain what it was meant to be: a raw diamond of soulful storytelling, built on a few piano notes, delicate string arrangements, and Fernie’s impressive falsetto prowess. Though pain and hardship are not something to be celebrated or pitied, they are aspects of one's life that deserve acknowledgment and respect. From a place of deep wounding, our fallen angel holds a profound truth about life, searching for its own way to be shared. When wings are ripped off, they can actually grow back stronger.

Photo credit : Éléonore Côté Savard

Le Büro: You were a student at the West Island Music Academy from the age of 13 to 18, where you took singing and songwriting lessons. What techniques helped you develop your falsetto voice?

Fernie :  In my case, I was training for vocal control. I was doing a lot of exercises with my diaphragm, a lot of enunciation exercises. When I was a teenager, I was not able to reach any of those falsetto notes due to puberty. I was fighting to make sure I had them. I had to learn how to sing with my head voice. For women, it's naturally easier to hit those falsetto tones by using their diaphragm. My voice is a little bit lower, I have to use my head voice. It took months of training. It was not an overnight thing. I am so glad I did because I'm able to hit them now.

Another crucial part of my training was singing covers of very popular songs. Take, We Can't Stop by Miley Cyrus, for example. My teacher always encouraged me to put a bit of myself into the songs while still staying true to them. She pushed me to show individuality and originality. Songwriting was also a major part of my development. I started writing music at 15.

Le Büro: Things started to get serious when you joined the collective Kids From The Underground with your producer Sam Aether. Your first album, Aurora, came out independently in 2021. It was a solo album, yet a collective effort. Why was it important for you to be surrounded by a creative community?

Fernie : The artists I look up to are mostly American. Of course, there are incredible artists in Toronto—Daniel Caesar, for example—but we didn’t have that kind of R&B community here in Montreal. Being part of this collective gave us all the motivation to strive for what we wanted and inspire each other.

Making Aurora with Kids From The Underground was important because they were the ones who pushed me into a bigger musical landscape. Many artists navigate their journeys alone, but having this collective around me helped ease my way into the industry, allowing me to create my own music and find my own voice.

Le Büro: Your music has a nostalgic feel, reminiscent of 1990s R&B. You’re also influenced by contemporary artists like Frank Ocean and FKA Twigs. What do you admire about them?

Fernie: I always reference Frank Ocean, SZA, and Daniel Caesar—they’re huge R&B artists, yet their music feels deeply personal. The way they tell their stories with such vulnerability is inspiring. That’s something I aim for in my own music, though it’s easier said than done. Seeing artists like Daniel Caesar and Frank Ocean be so open and honest with their lyrics motivates me to do the same.

Le Büro: Your new EP, Hopeless Dreams, is out now on Secret City Records. You describe it as Side A to your first album, Aurora. How did you shape this cinematic narrative?

Fernie: Aurora is an album where I celebrate self-love, all my perfections and imperfections. But Hopeless Dreams tells the story of how I got there.

I come from an environment where, to this day, I’m not sure if the love I received was the right kind of love. In my late teens and early adulthood, I was constantly chasing love because I didn’t have it within myself. I fed into a negative self-image. Aurora is about acceptance, but I needed to shed light on what it took to reach that point.

Le Büro: Your cover references the figure of the fallen angel. What inspired this choice?

Fernie: I just love that painting. There are so many assumptions you can make about it. The eyes convey anger, sadness, and despair, that’s what truly captivated me. It represents my album in such a deep psychological way that I can’t even fully describe it.

Le Büro: Your music videos have a strong visual identity. You also have a distinct fashion style. Where does that come from?

Fernie: I think it’s essential to be visually sharp. With Aurora, my aesthetic was more earthy, with lighter colors. Hopeless Dreams is darker, mostly black.

Montreal itself was a major inspiration, especially its brutalist architecture. Denis Villeneuve was also a big influence, his films Dune and Blade Runner feature a lot of brutalist elements, which I drew from. Fashion-wise, Rick Owens was a major inspiration.

Le Büro: You collaborated with Patrick Watson on this EP. How did he influence the writing process?

Fernie: Our collaboration and friendship started through mutual appreciation. I was in the early stages of my career, and during the pandemic, Patrick had just returned to Montreal and wanted to connect with the local scene. He’s an incredible artist, a literal mad scientist. We have different approaches to music, but what I learned from him is that vulnerability and emotion are key. You can’t shy away from music that forces you to self-reflect. That’s something I’ll carry with me forever.

Le Büro: You’re featured on a track with Backxwash on her upcoming album, set for release in March. How did that collaboration come about?

Fernie: When I started getting into the Montreal music scene, Backxwash really stood out, not just for her art but for who she is. We haven’t met in person yet, but we share deep respect for each other’s work.

Knowing someone like Backxwash has succeeded in the industry as a queer POC is inspiring. She seamlessly weaves her identity into her music. After she saw my show at POP Montreal, she reached out a few months later to ask if I’d contribute vocals to her track. It still feels surreal.

Le Büro: The song Pain was written in 2020 but only appears on this EP. What held you back from releasing it sooner?

Fernie: I recorded the first 30 seconds in 2020 but hesitated to put myself out there. I shelved it for two years.

When I finally showed it to Patrick, he loved it and asked why I hadn’t shared it sooner. He told me, “That’s what people want to hear. People want vulnerability. If you hold yourself back from songs like this, then get a job.” He was just trying to tell me in a funny way that if I’m not in tune with my emotions, then what’s the point of all this ? He was right all along. It’s a life lesson and I carry it with me forever.

Le Büro: There is an ongoing discussion about mental health in the artistic community and, more broadly, in society. Without intentionally doing so, I think you have managed to transform certain aspects of this vast issue into an artistic project. You say this EP is dedicated to anyone who feels lost, alone, or struggles to find their voice or identity. You shed light on questions of self-worth, codependency, despair, and trauma. How would you describe the way this EP has changed your sense of self-worth and the way you see yourself?

Fernie: I created this EP from a deeply personal perspective. During my late teens and early adulthood, I wasn't kind to myself. I don’t think I gave myself the chance to truly explore who I was. I was someone who pushed everything away. I made this album to honor the child I once was—someone new to the world, feeling defeated, just wanting to be loved. And that’s why I made it—because everyone deserves to be loved.

It’s not about glorifying destruction and despair; it’s about starting a conversation. I know not everyone has had a difficult childhood or faced these struggles, but for those who have, I see you. This isn’t just my story. So many others go through this too. When I say, “This is our story,” that’s exactly what I mean.

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To dive deeper, here is an R&B / hip-hop / neo-soul playlist inspired by Hopeless Dreams, the latest EP from Montreal-based singer songwriter Fernie. Featuring soulful storytelling, hypnotic grooves, and lush, introspective soundscapes, this selection blends international icons with Montreal’s rising voices in left-field R&B.

Catch Fernie live at one of the upcoming shows.

Feb 20 - Montreal, QC - Ausgang Plaza (EP Launch Party) - with DJ Kidcrayola -free

Feb 21 - Quebec, QC - Grand Théâtre de Québec (Le Phoque OFF) - with Billie du Page

Feb 24 - Toronto, ON - Adelaide Hall (School Night) - with Nia Nadurata, Baby Nova & Lucette -free